Reconstruction of Tragus and External Auditory Meatus using Remnant Auricle during Microtia Reconstruction.

This article investigates an effective method with which to reconstruct the tragus and external auditory meatus for microtia reconstruction. The external ear was reconstructed using a delayed postauricular skin flap in patients with congenital microtia. After the first stage of delaying the postauricular skin flap and the second stage of otoplasty with ear framework fabricated from autogenous rib cartilage draping with the delayed skin flap, the third stage involved tragus and external auditory meatus canaloplasty. After designing the remnant auricle flap, the lower part was trimmed and the tragus was reconstructed. The upper part was trimmed into a thin skin flap, which was rotated and used to cover the hollowed wound posterosuperior to the tragus so as to mimic the external auditory meatus. If remnant wounds were present, skin grafting was conducted. In total, 121 patients with congenital microtia were treated from March 2010 to March 2016. The reconstructed tragus and external auditory meatus were well formed, and all wounds healed well. No severe complications such as flap necrosis occurred. Six months postoperatively, the morphology of the reconstructed tragus and external auditory meatus was good. Overall, the patients and their families were satisfied. The use of remnant auricle to reconstruct the tragus and external auditory meatus is an effective auricular reconstruction technique.

Li GF ，Hu YG ，Ding W ，Tan J ，Chen X ，Luo T ，Zhang B ，Liu XJ ... -  《-》

A New Microtia Reconstruction Method Using Delayed Postauricular Skin Flap.

Li G ，Zhang F ，Ding W ，Wu Z ，Hu Y ，Luo T ，Zhang B ，Jiang X ... -  《-》

A new skin flap method for total auricular reconstruction in microtia patients with a reconstructed ear canal: extended scalp and extended mastoid postauricular skin flaps.

Before visiting a plastic surgeon, some microtia patients may undergo canaloplasty for hearing improvement. In such cases, scarred tissues and the reconstructed external auditory canal in the postauricular area may cause a significant limitation in using the posterior auricular skin flap for ear reconstruction. In this article, we present a new method for auricular reconstruction in microtia patients with previous canaloplasty. By dividing a postauricular skin flap into an upper scalp extended skin flap and a lower mastoid extended skin flap at the level of a reconstructed external auditory canal, the entire anterior surface of the auricular framework can be covered with the two extended postauricular skin flaps. The reconstructed ear shows good color match and texture, with the entire anterior surface of the reconstructed ear being resurfaced with the skin flaps. Clinical question/level of evidence; therapeutic level IV.

Hwang E ，Kim YS ，Chung S 《-》

An Alternative Posterosuperior Auricular Fascia Flap for Ear Elevation During Microtia Reconstruction.

Li Y ，Zhang R ，Zhang Q ，Xu Z ，Xu F ，Li D ... -  《-》

Using a remnant ear to reconstruct the tragus in total ear reconstruction.

Although the tragus is a small part of the auricle, it is necessary for a reconstructed ear because the excavated conchal region looks quite like a meatus when a prominent tragus casts a shadow on it. To our knowledge, there have been very few reports that specifically address tragus reconstruction. This article discusses various techniques and provides detailed knowledge regarding tragus reconstruction. According to various sizes, shapes and location of the remnant ear, the following methods have been used to reconstruct the tragus. (1) Inversion of a W-shaped skin flap; (2) modifying the concavity of the conchal trace to the convexity of the tragus; (3) obtaining a cartilage-containing composite graft from the remnant ear. At follow up between 3 months and 2 years, most reconstructed tragi have a satisfactory appearance and projection. These methods have proved to be extremely safe, simple and practical, justifying their wide use.

Xiao Q ，Shujie W ，Hongxing Z ，Haiyue J ，Qinghua Y ，Dashan Y ... -  《-》